The winners of the eleventh annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) are announced today, Sunday 30 November at Old Billingsgate Market in London.

Johanna von Fischer and Tessa Collinson, BIFA co-directors say: “It’s been another stellar year for independent film in Britain. The diverse range of films nominated showcases an astounding lineup of talent both new and established that demands to be celebrated.”

Elliot Grove, founder of Raindance and the British Independent Film Awards says: “Tonight’s nominations and award winners prove that filmmaking in Britain is alive and well.”

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council, the major funding partner of the BIFAs says: “This year’s BIFA nominations and award winners really highlight the range of talent working in the UK with powerful, ground-breaking and imaginative films coming from filmmakers with diverse voices. Over the years these awards have developed a great knack for discovering exciting new talent and promoting them to a wider film world, consequently championing British independent film excellence and originality.”

BIFA are proud to announce the following winners for this year’s Awards:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR
Sponsored by The Creative Partnership

Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

Steve McQueen – Hunger

BEST SCREENPLAY
Sponsored by BBC Films

Martin McDonagh – In Bruges

BEST ACTRESS
Sponsored by M.A.C

Vera Farmiga – The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

BEST ACTOR

Michael Fassbender – Hunger

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Alexis Zegerman – Happy-Go-Lucky

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Sponsored by Tiscali

Eddie Marsan – Happy-Go-Lucky

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
Sponsored by Recorded Picture Company

The Escapist

RAINDANCE AWARD

Zebra Crossings

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Sponsored by Skillset

Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt – Hunger

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Sponsored by Chapter Media

Man on Wire

BEST BRITISH SHORT
Sponsored by Dailymotion

Soft

BEST FOREIGN FILM

Waltz with Bashir

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for Outstanding Contribution to British Film)
Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK

David Thewlis

THE VARIETY AWARD

Michael Sheen

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Sponsored by UK Film Council

Joe Dunton

Proud supporters and patrons of BIFA include Tilda Swinton, Ray Winstone, Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Trudie Styler, Meera Syal and Michael Winterbottom.

BIFA would like to thank its Sponsors: UK Film Council, BBC Films, Chapter Media, The Creative Partnership, Dailymotion, Film London, M.A.C, Raindance, Recorded Picture Company, Skillset, Soho House, Tiscali, Variety, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK.

Created by Raindance

For further press information, contact Elizabeth Benjamin or Zoe Flower at Emfoundation:elizabeth@emfoundation.com / zoe@emfoundation.com / 020 7247 4171

NOTES TO EDITORS

BIFA was created by Raindance in 1998.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 2008

A film will be eligible for an Award if:

* It is intended for theatrical release, AND has had a public screening to a paying audience either on general release in the UK OR has screened at a British-based film festival between 1st December 2007 and 30th November 2008.

* Where there is any major studio substantially funding a film, the total budget must not exceed £10M ($20M).

* It has been produced or majority co-produced by a British company OR is in receipt of at least 51% of its budget from a British source or sources OR it qualifies as a British Film under the DCMS guidelines AND includes sufficient creative elements from the UK.

* BIFA also consider foreign independent films for the Best Foreign Independent Film category. Foreign films must have a British theatrical release during the eligibility period stated above.

* Films that have been entered previously are not eligible. Re-issues of previously released films are not eligible.

* All films submitted for consideration will be viewed by the Advisory Committee with the help of a nominated screening panel. The Advisory Committee will then decide the nominations by ballot.

* All nominated films will be viewed by the Jury. The winners will be decided by a secret ballot. In the case of a tie, a deciding vote will be cast by the Jury Chairperson.

* The Special Jury Prize will be decided entirely at the Jury’s discretion.

* The Douglas Hickox Award is to be given to a British director for their debut feature film. The estate of Douglas Hickox shall present a cheque for £500 to the winner.

* British Short Film Award submissions: Any British short films that have won an award between 16th October 2007 and 15th October 2008 are eligible for consideration. A short film must be no longer than 40 minutes (including credits).

* Feature films must be no less than 70 minutes in length.

* The Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Film by an Actor (male/female) to be decided by the Advisory Committee with the input of the Harris family.

* In 2003 the British Independent Film Awards introduced a new award for Best British Feature Documentary. Eligible films must be non-fiction. They should be photographed in actual occurrence, or employ partial re-enactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction (further eligibility criteria as with other feature films above).

* All films must be submitted for consideration by September 22nd 2008.

* Under exceptional circumstances, inclusion and consideration of films which do not strictly comply with the above criteria will be subject to the discretion of the British Independent Film Awards Advisory Committee.